Cebuano artist who is a Kobe fan thanks ‘Black Mamba’ for blessings

Laurence Ravina stands near his mural painting of his basketball idol, Kobe Bryant, at the San Vicente gym in Barangay Duljo Fatima in this 2020 photo.

CEBU CITY, Philippines— There were a lot of tributes done to honor Kobe Bryant when he passed away exactly a year ago today.

A lot of paintings were done all over the world to remember the Black Mamba.

Here in Cebu City, one artist painted a mural of Kobe on the floor of the basketball gym of the village where he lives.

The artist is Laurence Yuyen Ravina from the village of Duljo Fatima.

Ravina made waves last year when he painted a picture of Kobe on center court and used the Lakers colors to finish off the entire gymnasium.

Read: Avid Kobe fan from Cebu City uses talent to pay tribute to fallen basketball legend

He said he still thinks of his idol a year after his passing and thanks him for the inspiration that helped him as an artist.

He also thanks Kobe since it is because of his painting of the Los Angeles Lakers star that he was made known as an artist.

“A lot have recognized me since then,” Ravina said in Bisaya.  “Those who didn’t know me before know notice me and always mention the painting I did for Kobe. It also opened a lot of opportunities for me.”

As he takes a look at the basketball gym floor that he painted on, he said he will always remember this piece as one of his greatest achievements as an artist.

/Bmjo